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May 23rd, 2011
12:38 PM ET
New Yorkers can't smoke outside at parks anymoreSmokers in New York are no longer allowed to light up in parks. The Big Apple's outdoor smoking ban began Monday. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced last year plans to expand smoking bans at parks, beaches, marinas, boardwalks and pedestrian plazas, to prevent the effects of secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke exposure 'striking' in the U.S. The city has more than 1,700 parks and other open spaces, totaling more than 43.75 square miles. And now it’s illegal to smoke in any of them, reports CNN affiliate WPIX. The punishment: a $50 fine. WPIX reported that a 2009 study carried out by the New York City Department of Health found that 57% of non-smokers had elevated levels of nicotine, an indicator or exposure to secondhand smoke, higher than the national average of 45%.
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If second hand smoke is soo bad for the public, than why don't they just make it illegal in the America. Hey, why don't the government get rid of Alcohol, it harms the public too. Why are they picking on smokers so much? Alcohol kills thousands of people all the time. Also, Alcohol causes thousands of problems, between abuse to lost jobs. The government has no right to tell me I can't smoke outside, were is our freedom. As long as cigarettes are legal, I should have the right to smoke at lease outside, and for god sakes get rid of cars in the city, all the smog are killing people.
Your right to smoke ends where my lungs begin. You can drink as much alcohol as you want, and never make me drunk – see the difference?
And alcohol consumption does become illegal the second you get behind the wheel of a car, where your inebriation can affect someone else.
And we should have the right to douse you in gasoline before you light up that cigarette.
Thats the beauty of parks... You can smoke far enough away from others that there won't be second hand smoking.
Its just that the majority are non smokers so can push any laws they feel like on smokers.
Heather, you are a moron. Your logic is pathetic. Outlaw all vices unrelated to smoking? Do "one size fits all" laws work well? No, they don't. Smokers are either (or both) apathetic to the effect their stupid habit has on others, or addicted beyond rudimentary measures to get them to quit. But no matter the case, smokers are destroying their health and posing huge risks for the non smokers around them. Usually, laws prohibit such behavior, but the tobacco industry has a lot of dollars to lobby with, and they have a long, and very destructive history in this country (politically and socially) and that has given them a foothold, despite the mountains of medical data that confirms their products are harmful. As long as there are risks to others, and as long as I am put into a health insurance pool with idiot smokers (yes, they're ALL idiots), then non smokers (the people who pay for smokers' stupidity) get a say. People have a right to free speech, to pick the car they want, even what to name their child. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO INFECT MY AIR WITH THEIR CALLOUS DISREGARD FOR THE HEALTH OF OTHERS. Tobacco companies should be closed and cigarettes made illegal. Or let the current supply run out. Smoking related illnesses burden the American health care system with $100,000,000,000 (yes, billion, or a tenth of a trillion) dollars of preventable, unnecessary costs. Is that fair, moron?
XMAN – Apparently Heather isn't the only moron out here. I do not agree with Heather, but I certainly don't agree with you either. Lets take your comment, "THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO INFECT MY AIR WITH THEIR CALLOUS DISREGARD FOR THE HEALTH OF OTHERS." .... do you drive a vehicle? Ride a bus? Take a cab? These are all legal activities and everyone of these spews out toxic exhaust into the air I breathe. Could you stop all transportation please? It is bad for my poor lungs.
Suck it up, buttercup.
Ivan Z – You are comparing the choice to directly inhaling large amounts of carcinogens into your lungs with driving a car? You are right about one thing - that pool of morons includes you. Nearly 20 years caring for the sick, my wife has yet 1 person to have a medical diagnosis related to "engine exhaust". But you know what she DOES run into? Idiots who smoked and are now (or have) suffered from clots, emphysema, heart disease, coronary artery disease, embolisms, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, asthma, and the list goes on and on. All complications from the stupid decisions of people to take up smoking. You know how many of those diagnosis come up from what you say, driving? Seriously, please take a moment to think about what you post before clicking the button. And also, please consider a vasectomy, the world already has too many mentally handicapped people.
Heather, they aren't just picking on smokers. There are very serious consequenses for all substance abusers who put other people at risk. The point is, just being near someone who is smoking puts me at risk. I am so tired of hearing about smokers' rights! I have the right to breathe air that won't make me sick. Even if it didn't make me sick, I don't want to have to walk through a stinking cloud of smoke that will make me smell bad for the rest of the day!
Alcohol is legal but you can't drink outside in a park or public place either. The government can pass any law they want on anything they want. Smokers do not have the right to make other people sick because they choose to smoke. Alcoholics are killing themselves, therefore legal. The exception to that is drunk driving but that is very illegal and can land you some major jail time. Smoking is killing non smokers who have no choice but to be exposed to the toxic crap in cigarettes unless the government steps in and protects their right to be safe of cigarette smoke.
They pick on smokes because they haven't got the balls to go after the coal or pharmaceutical industry. Smokers don't have PACs, lobbies or millions of dollars to defend themselves. The coal industry kills it's miners with shoddy safety enforcement. The oil conglomerates are a huge factor in destroying our economy not to mention poisoning the seas. Big pharma is killing us off slowly and charging exorbitant rates to do it. The alcohol industry is destroying your liver and causing people to drive funny and killing people But hell, let's put the screws to the smokers. Hehehehe they're totally defenseless.
So what's wrong with this picture?
Yes in a major city full of cars, second hand tobacco smoke is your main concern...
While generally not a fan of New York, my opinion of the city just went up a few notches!
My opinion of NYC just went down. I can't smoke outside and I can't own a gun for self-defense.
I have been a non smoker for a few years....but man, as a former pack a day smoker, I would be really angry about this. NY of course has never been supportive for those who smoke....its the most expensive place to pick up a pack...and now...the most restricted place to use said product. For many though....its very addicting and not easy to just stop doing it....nor should they have to. Its a personal choice. Do I think that second hand smoke kills? Sure. Sitting in a bar...very little area for the smoke to dissipate in the air...yes....but outside? The concentration of bad chemicals at that level would have to be very very close to that which our cars produce out of the exhaust pipe. I guess, we will end up having to ban driving as well.
Wrong. Personal choice ends with hurting others' right to breathe air clean and free from smokers' harmful habits. Apparently nicotine does more than make cigarettes addictive, it blinds people, and makes them stupid as well. Smoking related illnesses add 100 billion each year to the US healthcare system. Is this fair to the people who don't smoke? Because non smokers premiums are affected by it, as are our lungs. Personal choice. Stupid. Personal choice is what beverage you like with dinner or what you like in a woman, it is NOT about the costs stupid people (smokers) put onto others.
I hear you, but parks are public domains whose maintenance is paid for with tax dollars, etc. I don't know where the smokers will go and that is a little sad, but I do think the rules for city parks should favor what's in the best interest of the general public. Parks and recreation...our tax dollars support it. I do agree that generally, forcing people out of a space is not completely fair, but in regards to public health, I have to agree with this.
My right to breathe clean air trumps your right to smoke. Period. Its just as bad walking down a windy NYC street. Get behind a smoker and you can't avoid the exposure. Its disgusting. At least now the parks are a safe haven. Would love to see other places follow this example.
You're more likely to be killed by a dog at a park than to die from second-hand smoke 50 years from then. Therefore we must ban all dogs at parks, too. And pidgeons too just to be safe.
Bobson ,
Join the club of morons. Second hand smoke IS a big problem. Where in God's name have you heard of a pigeon attacking and killing a human. Are you retarded or just delusional? I work in the medical field – in a CANCER research center mind you, doing research on LUNG CANCER. Have you ever seen a specialty hospital for pigeon attacks!!! I think not moron!
dude, if you are really all jazzed up about your clean air, why are you living in one of the densest urban areas on the planet? losing battle, no?
My right to breathe clean air trumps your right to drive SUVs and pickups. Where does this end?
It ends with human behavior that does not harm other people. Smoking harms the smoker, and it harms people around them. I thought that was obvious, but you apparently are blind. There are laws, you know, that curtail harmful behavior, but for some reason (lobbying and special interests), tobacco companies inappropriately get to stay in business when they should be closed and outlawed. Does this work with all vices, such as drinking? No, because drinking in and of itself does not harm me without the action accompanying another decision (getting behind the wheel while drunk). Smoking does, by itself, cause tremendous damage. My wife is an RN of nearly 20 years and she has cared for countless idiots who have ruined themselves from smoking. The bad part, though, is that non smokers get to pay for those medical costs through premiums. So much is wrong with this picture it's tough to pick a starting point. You want to know where it ends? Try personal responsibility and respect for others.
That's the problem Mike, it will get to the point where we can;t do anything, anywhere.
"It ends with human behavior that does not harm other people."
And you think you'll ever live to see that?
Of course you would say that. Your addiction trumps any feelings of empathy for others.
How could you not "be a fan "of NY ?
We are 9 million different people living on an island ,whats not to be
a fan of NYC is a country all to itself.
By the way this ban is truly unenforceable ,but does make people aware
that their smoke may bother someone next to them on a park bench or the like.
Is that true also for the smelly perfume that woman sitting in front of me in the theatre is wearing? Must she be evicted?
Howard, sure, as soon as second hand perfume is found to be harmful. Until then, you're just another idiot trying justify your habit by comparing it to something else. Pathetic
Dirka Dirka MUHAMED JiHad!
You all have great arguments...but the fact is, these type of laws shouldn't be a law. It should be common sense to hold your smoke while another person is passing by and not smoke where there are quite a few people surrounding you within a 10ft radius. Most people don't smoke, and we all know it smells horrible. But to pass a law to restrict smoking is just effin ridiculous! I'd love to light up a cigarette on a boardwalk at night and just listen to the waves crash.
Exactly!
Why should it be illegal if there's no one around you?
You'll still be able to smoke on the boardwalk at night, will just have to keep on looking out for cops, although its tough since they're everywhere in nyc.
I never understood why the cigarette companies don't make a good smelling cigarette. I sometimes smoke a pipe and pipe tobacco can be flavored so that it actually smells nice. Maybe some would not find it nice but it certainly does not stink like the American cigarette.
Call the FBI. i smoked one at Fresh Kills today.
Interesting that Bloomberg won't touch the buses or subways who pollute the city with their awful smelling fumes.
Subways are electric and don't give off fumes at all!
Land of the fre...what were you about to say?
Smoking should be illegal period. It's far worse than marijuana which is illegal for some reason.
Been tried with Booze during Prohibition....the net result ......created a criminal class out of ordinary people that wanted a beer or a glass of wine....,ansd as a bonus it created organized crime as we know it.........
Just a thought here......but I don't hear anyone objecting to the tons of carcinogens that are spewed into the streets of Manhattan by cars, trucks, buses and taxis every day.....You think maybe that causes a little more damage than secon hand smoke
That's absurd! Anyone who has been the victim of an addiction or has a current addiction will find a way to satisfy it. Smoking is very hard addiction to kick also. Since when does the government intrude on our personal space to try and control our habits? How does outdoor smoking affect anyone? The pidgeons in Central Park?
lol clearly someone who hasn't been stuck behind someone on the street in NYC and having their smoke blow in your face.
smoking is easy to quite...it just takes will power, self control, and perserverance. I was a ppd+smoker for about 15 yrs.
I went to play poker in December 2010...had a cigarette after leaving the hall...haven't had one since....and I won't....its been too long...now the smell makes me sick..tho i am wondering when food is going to taste better....not to knock how hard it is, as i quit many times only to relapse back to this nasty addiction...its all about when you are ready...truly ready...don't give up...if you want to quit...you CAN quit.
*shrug* Politicians simply need to stop bowing to the Big Tobacco lobby, and simply make it illegal to smoke... and those states that are highly dependant on cigarette sales/manufacturing need to figure out something else to do.
Note: Illegal to smoke, not neccessarily illegal to buy/sell. If you can manage to smoke in a way that is completely undetectable by anybody else, then fine. But if you light up in your condo, and the person in the unit next door smells it and complains to the police, you're busted. Chewing tobacco? A-ok. Tobacco brownies? Whatever.
Any form of airborn drug use needs to be illegal. Whether tobacco or marijuana.
This is great news. I hope they ban smoking everywhere but in people's homes. I live in NYC and I can say it is extremely annoying (and somewhat rude) when you're stuck behind someone who is smoking on the street and having their smoke blow in your face.
I also had an encounter where I was standing by a street corner and some drunk kid had his cigarette by his side, and he burnt my arm. Never really noticed that was even an issue until it happened to me.
I still will never understand why people still smoke. What other item would you spend tons of money on that increased your chances of dying a painful/cancerous death? Really?
i was at an outdoor park near my home yesterday (nowhere near NY) with my kids, pushing them on swings, and i smelled cigarette smoke. there wasn't anyone nearby, but i smelled it, and it was fairly strong. i'm a former smoker, and not a militant about second-hand smoke, but where my kids are involved, i become pretty strict. being fairly far from smokers and breathing in second-hand smoke outdoors, with my kids getting it too, i support this. you want to smoke, fine. find somewhere away from kids and people who don't want the smoke. based on yesterday, looks like you gotta be 100 feet away or more. or just quit, you'll feel better...
I am not a smoker, but to not allow people to smoke in a park is rediculous. America is quickly becoming a nation of pansies and wimps. Your poor delicate lungs don't appear to suffer from the effects of exhaust from the nations highways and city smog??? Get real people..............
That makes sense, idiot. On second thought, no it doesn't. Let's forget a moment about the added triple digit billions smoking related illnesses add to the U.S. healthcare system and let's just stick with the facts doctors around the world and other medical authorities have concluded, for a very long time now, that smoking is a leading cause of killers among humans and is wholly preventable. Pansies? Really? Why don't you stop by a local hospital and ask to see COPD patients, the people who are day and night out of breath and lying still because their lungs can no longer function normally. Idiot.
Except for the minor fact that nicotine is highly carcinogenic, highly concentrated in a cigarette and not a necessity. Driving a car, however, is required of many people to get to work. If I'm not mistaken many cities are working hard to reduce the numbers of cars on the road during rush hour not only to reduce traffic but also to help the environment. It's not about eliminating toxic substances from the earth OBVIOUSLY that's impossible. It's about reducing them by eliminating sources that aren't necessary ... LIKE YOU DISGUSTING CIGARETTES. If your going to get addicted to something at least get addicted to something that smells/tastes moderately pleasant. I mean, after all you're going to be doing a lot of it.
Ludicrous. Like New York's air is not already massively polluted from the millions of people, cars, factories, ect... in the immediate environs. The cigarette smoke may be the cleanest part of the air surrounding New York.
Yes, so according to your logic, allow more pollutants into the air because it is already really bad. Did you practice stupid all your life to get this good, or were you born retarded?
I applaud Xman for his intelligent responses to those people that seek to justify their own addiction. Smoking is a killer and not only of the smoker. What does it take to consider other people in your selfish pursuit of pleasure. It use to be fashionable to smoke but no more.. If you have a loved one that smokes be prepared to possibly lose them at an early age in a horribly way. It is not surprising that smokers balk at this restriction, they also balk at the fact that the have a nasty, expensive habit that makes them and their surroundings reek with an offensive odor...what do they care!!!
Xman's comments are right on the verge of intelligent. He also makes a lot of well informed points, and has statistics to back them up. However, the reason I say he's right on the verge of intelligent is because of the name-calling. Is that really necessary? It seems to me that virtually every sentence he uses has the word moron, idiot, retard, and or stupid.
Xman, if you are indeed the educated adult that you project yourself to be, then I suggest putting an end to the childish name-calling. To me, and this may just be my opinion, it devalues the validity of the good points you're making and takes away from your own credibility.
Finally, speaking of opinions: I wish people would stop saying things like "Its a FACT that............" and "blah blah blah PERIOD!" Most of what people are saying here is neither right nor wrong, but simply their opinion. Regardless of whether or not we agree on such a thing as "smokers rights" I think we can all agree that people in this country still have the right to free speech; the right to express their opinion. And before anyone says it, YES I realize that also means people have the right to call others idiots and morons (etc.), but it's unnecessary and childish.
Poor little babies. There are very inconsiderate smokers that will smoke in the face of others and don't care what is going on. There are very considerate smokers that smoke in the corner away from others and pick up their butts. In the park, 2nd hand smoking is not going to harm anybody unless they are standing right next to the smoker. If you are that close, then it's your problem. This is america. This is a free country. I get a kick out of people saying that alcohol is different. Are you serious? Alcohol is the highest cause of deaths every year. Higher than cancer. Between traffic accidents, deaths, alcohol poisoning, violent behavior leading to hurting or killing someone due to being intoxicated, and let me add again driving behind the wheel intoxicated. This law is ridiculous. I agree with a law about smoking around children and within a certain amount of feet of another human being. That is fine. 2nd hand smoke in a fricken park doesn't even reach another person. The smoke raises. My god. People complain a little bit too much. Who cares what the smoker goes through and their health. Lung cancer? Hey, do the study on liver, kidney, and brain cancer. Oh yea, does smoking cause that too? Hospital bills? Oh yea, the alcoholic doesn't have medical bills for kidney transplants or anything else they do to themselves or others while being drunk. People need to get over it. It's not a confined space or a shack or a store, it's outside in the park.
America was a free country, This is a fascist corporate nanny war state.
Wah Wah Wah, my wife is a nurse! I hate smokers! So I'm gonna call everyone on CNN stupid! I don't care about other pollutants in the air just cigarette smoke!
Xman, You are extremely righteous and holier than thou. May your vigorous efforts earn you positive karma to keep you from turning into a big cigarette butthead.
Boo Hoo, go cry me a river. I Love to smoke, and litter my butts all over the place in NYC. What ever looser.
I am better than all of you!
XMAN..I don't get it, I've read most of your posts and either you are a smoker or you aren't. But one thing is for sure. You love to throw around the insults calling people idiot, retarded, etc. You must be a great guy and have many friends. I will not waste time insulting you since you probably wouldn't understand. Good day...................if you could ever have one.
Nyc is a fascist place. The next step is to ban everything, make everything illegal and then give everyone a ticket. That is Bloomberg's cold calculating plan: make everything illegal, ticket everyone and collect the money. Time for a citywide ban on living your life the way you want.
^^Agreed^^
I'm an avid non- smoker, so I am glad. I wish they would make it illegal in NJ, too. I'm pregnant so it disgusts me when I accidentally breathe in air from some smoker nearby. The smell makes me sick, too. Just my opinion.
I quite smoking analog cigarettes 3 months ago – and have no desire to smoke one again!
I now smoke ecigs and dont hurt myself or anyone around me – and they dont smell.
I would highly suggest to all smokers to do themselves a huge favor and everyone around them. Do your research and save your life!
Ok, look at the following revenues raised from cigarette sales, we all know they are harmful for our health and the government is making about 35 billion dollars off from the sales. See the figures below, this was as of 2008, think how that has increased since then.
# Federal excise taxes – $7,307,440,000
# State and local excise taxes – $15,087,691,000
# State cigarette sales taxes – $4,764,730,000
# Tobacco settlement payments – $7,200,000,000
Now my question is if we outlawed the sale of cigarettes, where do you think the money will come from? Yeah you got it, us tax payers. Can we afford to dish out 35 billion dollars more in taxes every year? I think not. Like I said, I agree smoking is bad for you but so is the taxes, so which one is really the worst of the two evils?
Yes and medical costs is costin our goverment 100 billion your attempt to make a point is futile...
One subject that I haven't seen here is the problem with FIRES. That's just another one of the problems that occurs when the "right to smoke" seems to include burning down buildings or thousands of acres of forest. Even if you're the total opposite of a "tree hugger", think how many board feet of lumber gets destroyed. I live in the west and know of numerous forest fires that were caused by discarded cigarettes. I'm all for "rights" but rights also include responsibility.
yeah yeah yeah
I am a non smoker and I hate the smell of cigarette smoke. I was just wondering if NYC has so many extra police that they can stand around in parks all day looking for the law breakers.
So now, can we ban people from talking on their cell phones in public? Just saying, I find it equally rude.
I didn't think so.
True. Funny thing is, cell phones are expected to have a worse effect on public health than cigarettes ever did. The research is slowly trickling out, but of course, the cell phone industry is trying their hardest to keep the data from being shared. Tabacco industry, take two.
Slowly, in the name of "safety" all of our civil liberties will be stripped away. This ban is yet another outrageous affront to what used to be a "free" country.
Signed, a non-smoker who thinks cigarettes are disgusting, but not nearly as offensive as the ban itself.
While I do smoke on occasion (usually when I go out drinking) I do approve of this ban going through. When I do smoke, I am very self-conscious of others around me because I know people can be sensitive to smoke or not want to deal with secondhand smoke. Also, I understand smoking is dangerous to my health – trust me, I get that lecture from many people. However, alcohol is also dangerous (I live in WI so please, step off as I know what happens when people drink and drive all too well); as are fumes given from vehicles or poisons released from factories or all sorts of other things. Granted, I smoke to calm/relax myself...argue that all you want, but I know what I feel.
My point is that everyone has something they turn to (alcohol, food, cigarettes, reading, etc). Some things are better for you than others, but in the end it's about personal choice. I know what I am doing, and I enjoy what I am doing. When I see I'm offending people, I alter my behaviors. So please, don't assume all smokers disregard others, because some of us don't.
I would like to see this kind of rabid fervor as it relates to the diesel fumes being emitted by semi's and school buses, while sitting in a line of traffic for ten minutes. But that's not harmful? Evidently not, seeing as people get subjected to this stuff a far lot longer than some poor sucker with a cigarette.
I do not smoke but, I hate New York, New Jersey and all East Coast Cities...
I was a bit hesitant to respond to this post after reading all the comments, but I just want to add this:
I completely see the hazards of cigarette smoke to smokers and nonsmokers alike, and a line should be drawn when one's pleasure becomes a hazard to others. BUT, living in a post 9/11 country/city, I think as citizens we should be cautious when "public safety" laws like this appear. Unfortunately, in the name of "terror", there are many laws created that appear to solve one issue but create a domino effect, diminishing other freedoms in the process. The government is very smart, and they prey on our demand for "public safety", supplying us the rope and letting us tie our own hands.
Don't forget:
There are so many smokers in NY & around the world who carelessly toss their cigarette butts onto the ground. This is littering. This is illegal. It is disgusting to look at.
Xman..I am so sick of you calling people morons because they are stating their opinions. I, too, am an RN, cardiac and ER, and I have seen the effects of smoking. Did you ever think that this is the only addiction that comes to mind where people can't check themselves in somewhere and get help? There are inpatient rehabs for everything else. People who smoke are completely aware that they shouldn't for their health, but they weren't doing anything illegal. It still isn't illegal..just restricted to certain places...so stay the hell out of those places. And another HUGE impact on health care dollars?? Obesity..even a little. So all those out there who are whining about their health care costs and are overweight..take note. Yes, their weight isn't making you sick...but if smokers are making you sick..then stay out of the places where smoking isn't banned. I am a nonsmoker BTW. Just compassionate towards people who made choices that weren't the best for them..like that double order of fries, and the weekend binge. Get over yourself.
Yessss, these inconsiderate smokers need to have some limitations cause they have no respect for the non smokers!!!
yay for you, Mark, because you are perfect. And I know many considerate smokers..so don't gerneralize.
Legislating morality never works.
A ban in the wide open outdoors of NYC, now ya talk'n! No more pollution right? Never mind the trucks, cars and factories spewing pollutants Yep it's just those pesky smokers. Now everyone in NYC can come home, take a shower and not leave so much filth and massive dirt rings in the tub; because now those pesky cigarettes are finally gone. NYC where salt, french fries and other fatty foods are banned too because the nanny takes care of us. Thanks daddy bloomberg can we have our blankey now? Go back to sleep people pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
WHo would go to that Rat ,drug,crime,alcoholic,rotten City Is BEYOND ME..................What a DUMP
In the meantime the DRINKING of ALCOHOL is Allowed anywhere 24/7
You don't like my cigarette smoke?
Well, I don't like your screaming kids, your loud cell phone conversations, your slow driving, or your smelly perfumes.
This is a big win for tobacco-free air and tobacco-free liter control. No longer will we see tobacco addicted smokers wantonly throwing their litter on the ground in our parks and using our beaches as their personal ashtray. I applaud Mayor Bloomberg and the NYC City Council Members.
Smoking outside should be fine. We should ban the FAT ARS McDonald's eating, Spandex wearing, trash you see walking around everywhere. Fat people should be banned from public view because they're so disgusting to look at... It's bad for my health to look at nasty people. While we're at it, we can ban alcohol and all religious groups.
I don't really care if people smoke outside, except for the fact that a lot of smokers are antisocial morons who use the ground as therir ashtray. I don't like being on a beach or in a park littered with cigarette butts.
They won't make cigarettes illegal because the states make so much revenue from the taxes they charge smokers on each pack. So while people are slamming smokers, you might look to see where that tax revenue is going – in NC it's to schools and education. This is the hypocrisy of the entire issue.
I also wondr if CNN regulates what is said on these posts.